Brush cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus configured for cleaning brushes such as paint brushes, makeup brushes, and/or other brushes is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a body having a first side opposing a second side. The first side may have a concave surface. The second side may have a convex surface. The first side may further have a texture configured to facilitate cleaning a brush by stroking bristles of the brush on the first side until an amount of any substance disposed on the bristles is reduced.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to an apparatus configured for cleaning brushes such as paint brushes, makeup brushes, and/or other brushes.

BACKGROUND

An investment in high-quality brushes may be wasted if they are not properly cleaned after use. Typically, brushes are cleaned intermittently or after individual uses. With existing approaches, this is often a messy process. For example, a brush may conventionally be immersed in a solvent such as mineral spirits, turpentine, soap and water, and/or other solvent. The substance (e.g., paint, makeup, and/or other substance) in the bristles may then be massaged out by swirling the brush in the palm of one's hand.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to an apparatus configured for cleaning brushes such as paint brushes, makeup brushes, and/or other brushes. The apparatus may comprise a body having a first side opposing a second side. The first side may have a concave surface. The second side may have a convex surface. The first side may further have a texture configured to facilitate cleaning a brush by stroking bristles of the brush on the first side until an amount of any substance disposed on the bristles is reduced. Exemplary implementations may reduce exposure to solvents, paints, and/or other materials present during brush cleaning.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating an exemplary apparatus configured for cleaning brushes, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a first surface of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2B is a first side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2C is a second side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary implementations of the present disclosure provide a brush cleaning apparatus that increases cleaning efficiency, keeps hands cleaner during brush cleaning, and helps decrease solvent-skin contact. According to various implementations, the apparatus may be handheld or be configured to be removably affixed to a surface such as a sink. The apparatus may include a concave surface that is textured to facilitate removal of paint, makeup, or other substance on bristles of a brush.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating an exemplary apparatus 100 configured for cleaning brushes, in accordance with one or more implementations. FIG. 2A is a top view of a first surface of apparatus 100, FIG. 2B is a first side view of apparatus 100, and FIG. 2C is a second side view of apparatus 100, in accordance with one or more implementations.

The apparatus may include a body 102. According to various implementations, body 102 may have an overall shape that is an oval, a rounded rectangle, a circle, an asymmetric shape, a bean shape, and/or other shapes. In some implementations, body 102 may be ergonomically shaped to fit in a palm or hand. The overall shape of body 102 can best be seen in a top view of apparatus 100. In the top view provided in FIG. 2A, an exemplary implementation of an overall oval shape can be seen.

Depending on the size of brushes to be cleaned and/or other considerations, body 102 may have a range of dimensions. In some implementations, body 102 may have dimensions including one or more of a length of approximately two to five inches, a width of approximately one to four inches, and/or a depth of approximately one eighth inches to one inch. In some implementations, body 102 may have dimensions including one or more of a length that is greater than five inches, a width that is greater than four inches, and/or a depth that is greater than one inch. While a number of exemplary dimensions of body 102 are provided, this is not intended to be limiting as other dimensions are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosure.

The body 102 may have a first side 104 opposing a second side 106. The first side 104 may have a concave surface. The second side 106 may have a convex surface. In some implementations, the periphery 108 of first side 104 and second side 106 may be flat, rounded, chamfered, beveled, and/or shaped otherwise. The shape of periphery 108 may depend on the intended use of a particular implementation. For example, in handheld implementations, periphery 108 may be rounded for comfort while holding apparatus 100. In implementations configured to be mounted to a surface, the shape of periphery 108 may be purely aesthetic.

The first side 104 may have a texture. As described further herein, the texture may be configured to facilitate cleaning a brush by stroking bristles of the brush on first side 104 until an amount of any substance disposed on the bristles is reduced. Features of the texture (e.g., protuberances and/or depressions) may cover thirty to fifty percent of the first side 104, in exemplary implementations. Other coverages, however, are contemplated and within the scope of the disclosure.

According to some implementations, the texture may comprise a plurality of protuberances 110. Individual ones of the plurality of protuberances 110 may be convex shaped, pyramid shaped, shaped as a letter or number character, and/or shaped otherwise. In some implementations, individual protuberances 110 may be rigid, narrow bristle-like protuberances configured to reach the ferrule of a brush for cleaning material deep in the bristles. The size and/or shape of individual protuberances 110 may be configured based on the type(s) of brushes to be cleaned with a particular implementation. According to various implementations, the width and/or height of an individual protuberance 110 may range from about one thirty-second inches to about three forths inches, or longer depending on the type of brush to be cleaned. The number of protuberances 110 may depend on the type(s) of brushes to be cleaned with a particular implementation. The number of protuberances 110 may be less than ten protuberances, ten to twenty protuberances, twenty to thirty protuberances, thirty to forty protuberances, forty to fifty protuberances, or more than fifty protuberances. While a number of exemplary shapes, sizes, and amounts of protuberances are described herein, this is not intended to be limiting as other shapes, sizes, and/or amounts of protuberances 110 are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosure.

In some implementations, the texture may comprise a plurality of depressions (not depicted). Individual ones of the plurality of depressions may be convex shaped, pyramid shaped, shaped as a letter or number character, and/or shaped otherwise. The size and/or shape of individual depressions may be configured based on the type(s) of brushes to be cleaned with a particular implementation. According to various implementations, the width and/or depth of an individual depression may range from about one thirty-second inches to about three forth inches. The number of depressions may depend on the type(s) of brushes to be cleaned with a particular implementation. The number of depressions may be less than ten depressions, ten to twenty depressions, twenty to thirty depressions, thirty to forty depressions, forty to fifty depressions, or more than fifty depressions. While a number of exemplary shapes, sizes, and amounts of depressions are described herein, this is not intended to be limiting as other shapes, sizes, and/or amounts of depressions are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosure.

The apparatus 100 may be fabricated using any number of common techniques. For example, apparatus 100 may be formed by injection molding, three-dimensional printing, stamping, and/or other techniques. A variety of materials may be used for apparatus 100. According to some implementations, apparatus 100 may be formed of one or more materials including a plastic material, silicone, a rubber material, a pliable material, a rigid material, a metallic material, wood, and/or other materials. One or more of the materials used to form apparatus 100 may include a material that is solvent resistant. In accordance with various implementations, apparatus 100 may be a singular object or may be an assembly of two or more parts. For example, in some implementations, body 102 and protuberances 110 may be separate parts that are assembled to form apparatus 100. As another example, first surface 04 may be formed of a material configured to repel paint, while second surface 106 may be formed of a material configured for grip.

The apparatus 100 may include one or more other components that are not depicted in the figures. For example, according to one implementation, apparatus 100 may include a strap across second side 106 that is configured to secure apparatus 100 to a hand. As another example, apparatus 100 may include one or more of suction cups, clips, bolts, adhesive, and/or other means for removably or permanently attaching apparatus 100 to a surface. As yet another example, apparatus 100 may include a handle affixed to second side 106 to aid in holding apparatus 100.

As mentioned above, the texture of first side 104 may be configured to facilitate cleaning a brush by stroking bristles of the brush on the first side until an amount of any substance (e.g., paint, makeup, and/or other substance) disposed on the bristles is reduced. For artists' paint brushes, makeup brushes, and/or other small brushes, apparatus 100 may be configured to be handheld. In some implementations, second side 106 may be adapted to be held in the palm of a hand. For example, second surface 106 may be shaped to conform to the contours of an average person's hand. For house painters' brushes and/or other large brushes, apparatus 100 may be adapted to be removably or permanently secured to a surface. This may be accomplished with one or more of suction cups, clips, and/or other means for removably attaching apparatus 100 to a surface. The surface may include a sink, bucket, and/or other surface.

Although the disclosure has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus configured for cleaning brushes such as paint brushes, makeup brushes, and/or other brushes, the apparatus comprising: a body having a first side opposing a second side, the first side having a concave surface and the second side having a convex surface, the first side further having a texture configured to facilitate cleaning a brush by stroking bristles of the brush on the first side until an amount of any substance disposed on the bristles is reduced.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side is adapted to be held in the palm of a hand.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side is adapted to be removably or permanently secured to a surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the texture comprises a plurality of protuberances.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein individual ones of the plurality of protuberances are convex shaped.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances cover thirty to fifty percent of the first side.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes less than ten protuberances.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes ten to twenty protuberances, inclusive.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes twenty to thirty protuberances, inclusive.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes thirty to forty protuberances, inclusive.
 11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes forty to fifty protuberances, inclusive.
 12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protuberances includes more than fifty protuberances.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the texture comprises a plurality of depressions.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein individual ones of the plurality of depressions are concave shaped.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a singular object.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is formed of one or more materials including a plastic material, silicone, a rubber material, a pliable material, a rigid material, a metallic material, or wood.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is formed by injection molding or three-dimensional printing.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the first side and the second side is rounded.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a length of approximately two to five inches, a width of approximately one to four inches, and a depth of approximately one eighth inches to one inch.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has an overall oval shape or an overall rounded rectangle shape. 